Steering gear



E. G. GUNN STEERING GEAR' Filed Aug. 31, 1928 1j Ear/ March 17, 1931.

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNIT-,ED STATES PATENT ori-"ica EARL Gr. GUNN, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNR TO'THENASH MOTORS COMPANY, OF IKENOSHA, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATIGN F MARYLAND STEERING: GEAR Application :filed August 31, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in steering gear for automobiles and the like, and more particularly to so-called shock dampeners used in connection therewith, and

has for its principal object to provide a new and improved construction thereof whereby excessive shocks and disturbances or flickering in the steering system caused by deflection of the supporting springs on the front axle is minimized.

In present automobile constructions wherein the front wheels themselves are of relatively massive construction and often include front Wheel brake mechanism, a large proportion of the flickering movements are transferred to the hand steering wheel, whereby they are especially objectionable to the driver.

In order to minimize such movements, some constructions including coil spring cushion- 5 In carrying out my invention, I utilize a fiexible rubber connection between adjacent connecting members so as to introduce a shearing stress in the body ofthe rubber and thus take advantage of the relatively great 'm flexibility or elasticity of the rubber under initial or small loads and a relatively greater resistance to movement as the load increases. Thus the flexibility of the connection under relatively small loads or shocks is considerably greater than is possible with springs or the like heretofore employed for a similar purpose.

The invention is best illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which `Figure l shows a tie rod to which my iii- Seral No. 303,163.

vention is applied, with the iexible oint shown in cross section.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Referring toy details shown in the. draw- L ings, the tie rod is indicated at 10 and inciudes a tubular section 11 connected to another cylindrical section 12 by means of a flexible joint or dainpener which will now be described.

The tubular section 10 has an enlarged cvlindrical open end portion 14 within which the other end portion 12 extends. A sleeve 15 of rubber is inserted between the center portion 12 and the cylindrical enlargement 14. The rubber sleeve may be vulcanized in place in a manner well known in the art so as to be rigidly connected to both metallic parts.

The construction above described provides a flexible connection between parts 11 and 12 so as to dampen the effect of endwise thrusts between the two ends of the tic rod. As already suggested, the relatively large initial `elasticity of the rubber is utilized to afford a comparatively large initial deflection of the,

two parts, but as the load is increased, the limit` of elasticity may be reached so as to limit further deiiection or displacement of the two parts.

When in operation, the rubber sleeve 15 yieldable throughout its length under shearing stresses, and therefore provides an extremely simple and economical construction for the metallic parts including the openended cylindrical portion 14 and the rod 12.

As a safety measure, I provide suitable auxiliary stop means, as for instance, a pin 16 which may be passed through the tie rod member 12 and the rubber sleeve 15 so :is to extend into longitudinally disposed slots 17-17 formed in the side walls of the enlarged portion 14. It will be understood, however, that the safety pin 16 will not be effective unless the rubber sleeve 15 should become damaged or displaced.

Although in the embodiment illustrated i my invention is shown as applied to a tie rod, it will be understood that a similar construction might also be utilized in other connecting members of the steering system, as for instance, the drag link.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a steering gear and in combination with two pivoted steering wheels, a Connecting member for Said wheels including a rod, a. rubber slee've on said rod, and a hollow open-ended member surrounding said rubber sleeve, Said sleeve affording limited longitudinal movement of said rod and hollow member under shearing stresSes.

2. In a steering gear and in combination with two pivoted steering" wheels, a connecting member for said wheels including :L rod, u hollow member surrounding said rod, and a rubber vsleeve between and `vulcanized to said rod and hollow member l1nd affording limited longitudinal movement therebetween underl shearing stresses.

Signed at Chicago, Ill., this 23rd day of Augut, 1928. Y e

EARL G. GUNN. 

